Ventilating-tree.



170.857,734. PATBNTEDJUNB 25, 1907. J. s. HANSEN.

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VENTILATING-TREE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application filed May 11,1906. Serial No. 316,244.

My object is to provide means for permitting the shoe to become thoroughly ventilated without losing its correct shape and without permitting the inner-sole or sock lining to curl up at the edges, and also I aim to provide an exceedingly light-weight and yet strong and firm shoe tree.

Various hollow forms have been devised, more or less incapable of enduring strains, external pressures, etc., or else not'alfording contact over the essential portions of the sole, and the like, and accordingly I have devised the herein described tree, in which a series of longitudinal, parallel integral ribs,

with intervening spaces extend down from a whole upper-part, excepting that the spaces extend through between the toe and the top of the instep. In the region of the ball of the foot, a large space or cavity is preferably provided for permitting the greatest drying and ventilation where most needed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a shoe-tree embodying my invention Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof 5 and Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view of a modified construction.

For convenience of description I have illustrated my invention in Figs. 1 and 2 applied to a divided last or tree, whose forepart 1 and heelpart 2 are joined by a link 3 pivoted at l and held in a kerf 5 by a pin 6 beneath a handle 7 and in Fig. 3 I have shown a forepart 8 adapted to receive or cooperate with a different retaining portion or heel support (not shown). The upper part of the last, at 9, 10, is whole or uncut, and depending therefrom I provide a series of thin parallel ribs 11, terminating at their lower edges to conform to the style of the bottom of the shoe, excepting in the region of the ball of the foot, where they are preferably cut away to provide a large open space 12, and, above the latter, the intervening spaces 13 extend through the last to the top, as indicated at 14. Preferably also openings 15 are provided through to the inclined part 16 back of the instep connecting with the spaces 13.

In Fig. 3 the construction is substantially the same, excepting that the spaces 13 do not extend back to the heel, but terminate at 17.

In making my shoe-tree I first turn the last to a full last shape and then make the longitudinal spaces and intervening ribs or supporting stays by means of circular saws, although any other suitable mechanism may be employed. The spaces extend preferably longitudinally for giving the best circulation of air, although I do not restrict myself to any particular details except as required by the claims hereinafter set forth.

. It will be seen that practically all the ordinarily confined portions of the shoe have a -direct circulation of air or ventilation access to the outside. The entire inside bottom of the shoe, although held firmly down, so that the leather can not curl up or loosen, dissipates its moisture through the numerous air spaces 13, and so likewise does the inside of the top of the vamp which rests tightly against the openings 14, and all these spaces or passages 13 communicate with each other at the common chamber or open space 12, and from this common chamber the moisture and foul air passes out through the vents or openings 1.5, which are so located that they cannot be closed by contact with the shoe.

My aim is to support the shoe as with a regular last and yet afford free circulation of air for drying and ventilation, and also to provide extreme lightness without sacrificing strength and durability. Also, my invention affords a simple and inexpensive construction, which at the same time is neat and at tractive in appearance.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. A Ventilating shoe-tree, having a series of thin ribs extending downwardly, with intervening air spaces opening at the bottom and also at the top of the shoe-tree.

2. A Ventilating shoe-tree, constructed IOO IOS

and arranged to engage and support the shoe at the sides and top of the upper and throughout the width of the bottom of the shoe, and provided with Ventilating air spaces extending through the last from the bottom to the top, and having communication back of the instep with the outside air when in a shoe, for Ventilating both the bottom of the shoe and the top portion of the upper.

3. A Ventilating shoe-tree, having a series of thin, parallel ribs extending downwardly, with intervening air spaces, said ribs terminating at the bottom to conform to the lastshape of the shoe, excepting at the region of the ball of the last where a large hollow open space is provided7 connecting in common a plurality of the adjacent intervening air spaces.

4. A Ventilating shoe-tree, having a series of thin, parallel ribs extending longitudinally of the tree and separated by air spaces opening at the bottom of the tree, and also at the top between the toe and instep.

5. A Ventilating shoe-tree, having a series of thin, parallel ribs extending longitudinally of the tree and separated by air spaces opening at the bottom ofthe tree, and means,

back of the instep, affording outside aircommunication with said separating airspaces.

6. A Ventilating shoe-tree, having a series of thin, parallel ribs'extending longitudinally of the tree and separated by air spaces open ing at the bottom of the tree, said ribs being cut away in the ball-region to form a large open space common to said separating air spaces.

7. A Ventilating shoe-tree7 having a series of thin, parallel ribs extending longitudinallyr of the tree and separated by air spaces opening at the bottom of the tree, said ribs being cut away in the ball-region to form a large open space common to said separating air spaces, and openings from said large open space to the outside air when the tree is in a shoe.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

y JOHN S. HANSEN.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. MAXWELL, M. J. SPALDING. 

